I’m only asking because some of my rail enthusiast friends have been speculating about it getting cancelled, with seemingly little evidence to back up their points. Was wondering if someone had any further insight perchance.
(Stage 1 of 3-step “YIMBYism” effort; SEQTA, 2025).
In my head, I think this is a likely case. But I just want some credible sources to back this rumour up..
You can’t cancel something that hasn’t started… all that is happening is a business case afaik.
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Its also a shame that work on extending the Western Freeway bikeway from Ellen Grove to Springfield Central (running parallel with the Centenary Highway) hasn’t precipitated as well. Despite it being landmarked as a high-priority.
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If govt wants to reprioritise anything out that way, will be toowoomba-rosewood-ipswich upgrades in conjuction with inrail line would be higher imo as toowoomba is a city with 128k+ population
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My understanding of QLD planning history suggests governments undertake their prioritisation with a sharp eye on growth potential, rather than servicing existing population centres (see discussion around almost a century of delay on the Redcliffe line). Growth estimates suggest the area between Ipswich and Rosewood is likely to expected to deliver a lot of growth in coming years, and Ripley continues apace. I wouldn’t write this project off yet, but i do fear the current climate of cost blowouts and the existing pipeline means it will just sit on the backburner for decades to come.
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The Gold Coast line isn’t finished, that might be a clue as to how projects tend to be delivered in Queensland - in bits and pieces over long periods of time.
Perth generally just builds the whole line end-to-end, only really goes back if development skips forward.
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This was originally to be delivered along with the rail extension to Springfield. However, when there was a change in government midway through the project, the bikeway was canned (they proceeded with widening the motorway though).
The best hope for an extension of the bikeway from Ellen Grove to Springfield will be to bundle it with any future motorway widening projects (i.e. multi-decade horizon).
There simply is no interest at any level of government in building major active transport corridors as a stand-alone project.
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Yes, that’s where it is at present. It is not an absolute given that it would be heavy rail.
More details > https://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/About-Council/Initiatives/Advocacy/Ipswich-to-Springfield-Central-Public-Transport-Corridor
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Seems to be the classic path that major projects take to be delivered in Queensland. The project delivery and execution is itself an obstacle.
Projects tend to be front-loaded. Big plan, lots of marketing… then over time the project is stripped right down, both timelines and budget blows out, and it’s delivered in pieces.
There is also a huge list of $b projects, also unfinished or unstarted ahead of this one. So very likely to be delayed for a bit (e.g. 20 years).
Recommend running a whole heap of buses off the end of the line, and seeing if we can get incremental extension at least.
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Unless it’s a Freeway Those are prioritised!!
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I cannot cope with the government/s thinking it is acceptable to meet a rail line with anything else other than a rail line.
Putting a BRT and heavy/light rail together is absolute madness and I feel like I’m going insane with the number of proposals that are built on this.
Buses are not the answer.
I don’t believe in assessing the mode when it’s meeting an existing project - e.g., buses should have never been on the table with the extension of GCLR as it was not a bus project. Buses should not be on the table for an extension of the Springfield RAIL line.
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I cannot cope with the government/s thinking it is acceptable to meet a rail line with anything else other than a rail line.
Agree. Feeder buses running perpendicular to rail are acceptable, but using buses as a rail extension along major corridors is not.
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This map of I2S is from the I2S Corridor Factsheet(PDF, 7MB)
It looks like heavy rail, but what is a little concerning is they don’t refer to heavy rail anywhere just mention mass transit solution. The options analysis appears to have been completed and is being reviewed by TMR. The I2S web site mentions specifically that 'The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads is finalising its preliminary evaluation of the Options Analysis Stage 2 Business Case. ’ This should confirm if heavy rail will get the nod. My understanding is that busway and heavy rail were the two modes considered in the options analysis.
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Appears the Ipswich Insider has some additional information.
What Everyone Ought To Know About the Ipswich to Springfield Rail Line
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We need to really push for this for this to be built and ASAP
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Almost as if having to change modes to continue in the same direction is not seamless (looking at you, ‘The Wave: seamless public transport for Sunshine Coast’).
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I would doubt that there is anyone living along that corridor that opposes the railway line, and certainly not anyone I’ve seen with a loud enough voice to influence political decisions. People out that way just want basic infrastructure for their suburbs but it’s currently not being delivered. I don’t think NIMBYism is at all a contributing factor to the potential cancelation of this line.
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Why not just build it using light rail?
Ipswich and Springfield Lakes are just neighbours after all.
Does it really need a heavy rail extension.
A tram connecting two train lines would be more frequent and reliable than the current rail services could ever offer on the same line.
The I2S is also still unfunded as of 2025-26 budget.
Local Ipswich News: Questions over delay in release of rail loop report
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