Nambour and Gympie North railway line, Queensland
Encyclopedia
The Nambour and Gympie North railway line (also known as the Sunshine Coast Line) is an interurban railway line in Queensland
, Australia
connecting Brisbane
with the Sunshine Coast
and Gympie
. It is the longest line of the Citytrain
network.
, then past Caboolture it follows the North Coast line
to Nambour
and Gympie
. The line consists of four tracks from Roma Street to Northgate, three tracks to Lawnton to allow the Nambour and Gympie North express services to pass the local Caboolture services. The line is then double track to Beerburrum.
North of Beerburrum
, the line is single track
with passing loop
s at most station. Due to a rapidly-rising population on the Sunshine Coast and in hinterland towns, the annual compounded growth rate for morning peak passenger numbers on the line north of Caboolture is six per cent, second only to the 7.1 per cent figure for the Gold Coast Line south of Beenleigh, to Robina. Due to shared traffic with Traveltrain
and freight services
, interurban services on this line is limited during the off-peak. As a result, additional rail-bus services operate between Caboolture and Nambour in the weekday off-peak, supplementing the train services. There are two daily return Citytrain services between Brisbane and Gympie North.
started a study for the need to upgrade the North Coast Line between Caboolture and Landsborough. On 29 August 2005, the first stage of the duplication between Caboolture and Beerburrum was approved.. The second stage between Beerburrum and Landsborough
was approved on 14 August 2006, but work is yet to start. Construction of the first stage to Beerburrum started mid-2007 and was commissioned on 14 April 2009.
The new line to Beerburrum is straight and trains can operate at higher speeds. The upgrade includes the existing straight section of track, creating a third line between Caboolture and Elimbah
. The purpose of this is to refuge freight trains operating on the line from delaying the interurban and suburban passenger services. Two upgraded stations have been built at Elimbah and Beerburrum.
The second stage between Beerburrum and Landsborough is currently in the concept stage, with no construction nor completion dates at present.
There is currently a study into duplicating and straightening the line between Landsbrough and Nambour. It is proposed that two new tunnel
s and four upgraded stations (Mooloolah
, Eudlo
, Palmwoods
and Woombye
) will be constructed.
Due to the lack of track capacity between Beerburrum and Nambour, Kangaroo Bus Lines operates weekday off-peak Railbus shuttles between Nambour Station and Caboolture station in addition to the off-peak train services.
Passengers for/from the Caboolture line change at either Caboolture, Petrie or Northgate, Shorncliffe line at Northgate, Airport
and Doomben change at Eagle Junction and Ferny Grove lines change at Bowen Hills, and all other lines at Central.
Passengers for Traveston are to board the lead carriage of the Gympie North train, and Passengers for Eudlo are to board the first three cars of any train, due to shorter than normal platforms. Temporary platform extensions has recently opened at stations between Mooloolah and Cooran in November 2009, enabling passengers to board on any carriage at the majority of stations north of Landsborough.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
connecting Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
with the Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in...
and Gympie
Gympie
Gympie may refer to:* Gympie, a city in Queensland, Australia** Gympie Airport** Electoral district of Gympie** Gympie Region, its local government authority* Gympie Gympie , a stinging plant...
. It is the longest line of the Citytrain
CityTrain
Citytrain is the brand name of urban, suburban and inter-urban electric passenger railway services in South East Queensland, Australia. Its network, centering in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, is approximately in route length...
network.
Overview
The Nambour and Gympie North railway line follows the Caboolture line to CabooltureCaboolture, Queensland
Caboolture is an urban centre approximately north of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. Caboolture is considered to be the northernmost urban area of the greater Brisbane metropolitan region within South East Queensland, and it marks the end of the Brisbane suburban commuter...
, then past Caboolture it follows the North Coast line
North Coast railway line, Queensland
The North Coast railway line is a narrow gauge railway line in Queensland, Australia. It runs from Brisbane, along the Queensland coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The line is electrified between Brisbane and Rockhampton...
to Nambour
Nambour, Queensland
The area now known as Nambour, was first settled in 1870. The town was then called Petrie's Creek. In 1890 the Maroochy Divisional Board was established...
and Gympie
Gympie
Gympie may refer to:* Gympie, a city in Queensland, Australia** Gympie Airport** Electoral district of Gympie** Gympie Region, its local government authority* Gympie Gympie , a stinging plant...
. The line consists of four tracks from Roma Street to Northgate, three tracks to Lawnton to allow the Nambour and Gympie North express services to pass the local Caboolture services. The line is then double track to Beerburrum.
North of Beerburrum
Beerburrum, Queensland
Beerburrum is a small town in South-East Queensland, Australia. It is located close to the Glass House Mountains 60 km north of the state capital, Brisbane, in the Sunshine Coast local government area. The name is derived from that of a nearby mountain, Mount Beerburrum: in the language of the...
, the line is single track
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
with passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
s at most station. Due to a rapidly-rising population on the Sunshine Coast and in hinterland towns, the annual compounded growth rate for morning peak passenger numbers on the line north of Caboolture is six per cent, second only to the 7.1 per cent figure for the Gold Coast Line south of Beenleigh, to Robina. Due to shared traffic with Traveltrain
TravelTrain
Traveltrain provides long range passenger rail services in Queensland, run by Queensland Rail. Its flagships are the electric and diesel Tilt Trains, servicing Brisbane – Rockhampton and Brisbane – Cairns respectively...
and freight services
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
, interurban services on this line is limited during the off-peak. As a result, additional rail-bus services operate between Caboolture and Nambour in the weekday off-peak, supplementing the train services. There are two daily return Citytrain services between Brisbane and Gympie North.
Upgrades
In 2001, the Queensland GovernmentGovernment of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
started a study for the need to upgrade the North Coast Line between Caboolture and Landsborough. On 29 August 2005, the first stage of the duplication between Caboolture and Beerburrum was approved.. The second stage between Beerburrum and Landsborough
Landsborough, Queensland
Landsborough is a small town on the Sunshine Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. It is situated north of the Glasshouse Mountains just off Steve Irwin Way, 82 km north of Brisbane...
was approved on 14 August 2006, but work is yet to start. Construction of the first stage to Beerburrum started mid-2007 and was commissioned on 14 April 2009.
The new line to Beerburrum is straight and trains can operate at higher speeds. The upgrade includes the existing straight section of track, creating a third line between Caboolture and Elimbah
Elimbah, Queensland
Elimbah is a suburb of the Moreton Bay Region in Queensland, Australia. It is located north of the larger centre of Caboolture, and south of Beerburrum. At the 2006 census, the suburb recorded a population of 648 persons, with a median age of 36 years....
. The purpose of this is to refuge freight trains operating on the line from delaying the interurban and suburban passenger services. Two upgraded stations have been built at Elimbah and Beerburrum.
The second stage between Beerburrum and Landsborough is currently in the concept stage, with no construction nor completion dates at present.
There is currently a study into duplicating and straightening the line between Landsbrough and Nambour. It is proposed that two new tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
s and four upgraded stations (Mooloolah
Mooloolah, Queensland
Mooloolah Valley is a small town on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Queensland, Australia.It is situated north of Landsborough on the main railway line from Brisbane with regular services southbound to Brisbane and northbound to Nambour and Gympie....
, Eudlo
Eudlo, Queensland
Eudlo is a small hinterland town on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. The name originated from the fresh water eel. At the 2006 census, Eudlo had a population of 852.-External links:**...
, Palmwoods
Palmwoods, Queensland
Palmwoods is a town in Queensland, Australia, situated near Nambour. At the 2006 census, Palmwoods had a population of 3,576.The small town was previously named 'Merriman Flats' in 1881 by the Kuskopfs who were part of the first White settlers in the area. It was later renamed Palmwoods after the...
and Woombye
Woombye, Queensland
Woombye is a town located on the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Queensland, Australia, approximately 100 km north of the Brisbane CBD. The name is derived from words from the local Aboriginal language - a place of black snake or black myrtle or axe handle made from black myrtle...
) will be constructed.
Line guide and services
All peak, off-peak and most weekend train services between Brisbane and Nambour run express between Caboolture and Northgate stations, stopping at Petrie station in the off-peak. Trains between Gympie North and Brisbane run express between Caboolture and Bowen Hills station. Counter-Peak trains and a few selected weekend train services operate as a shuttle between Nambour and Caboolture only, with connecting train services to and/from the City at Caboolture station.Due to the lack of track capacity between Beerburrum and Nambour, Kangaroo Bus Lines operates weekday off-peak Railbus shuttles between Nambour Station and Caboolture station in addition to the off-peak train services.
Passengers for/from the Caboolture line change at either Caboolture, Petrie or Northgate, Shorncliffe line at Northgate, Airport
AirTrain (Brisbane)
Airtrain is the privately owned commuter railway line that extends 13.0 km northeast from Brisbane , the state capital of Queensland, Australia, to the Brisbane Airport at both its separate International and Domestic terminals.The line is carried on an elevated prestressed concrete viaduct...
and Doomben change at Eagle Junction and Ferny Grove lines change at Bowen Hills, and all other lines at Central.
Passengers for Traveston are to board the lead carriage of the Gympie North train, and Passengers for Eudlo are to board the first three cars of any train, due to shorter than normal platforms. Temporary platform extensions has recently opened at stations between Mooloolah and Cooran in November 2009, enabling passengers to board on any carriage at the majority of stations north of Landsborough.