Rail services and infrastructure
A Community Service Obligation (CSO) Framework
Public Benefit Test of Queensland's Rail Safety Legislation
South East Queensland Infrastructure Program
Rail corridor direction statements
The Department of Transport and Main Roads develops rail policy advice and is the agency that oversees the provision of rail services and infrastructure.
The department also hold the perpetual lease over all rail corridor land in Queensland (9550 km) and is the custodian and protector of these corridors.
The department sub-leases the corridor to rail operators such as QR Limited, Airtrain and heritage railways. Under the sub-lease arrangements, the operator has a 'duty of care' for the land. The department also approves third-party use of the corridors for things such as telecommunications, advertising, and other commercial and community uses, as well as associated tenure arrangements.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads also approves new crossings of the corridor. As owner of the corridor for the purposes of the Integrated Planning Act 1997, the department can give resource entitlement for any development applications that affect the corridor.
The department is a constructing authority for the purposes of the Acquisition of Land Act 1967 and acquire new rail corridors for QR Limited and other rail operators — provided all environmental issues have been addressed. The department also preserves disused railway corridors in case they are required for future transport use. In the interim, they can be made available for recreational and other community uses such as walking or riding trails.
The Community Service Obligation (CSO) framework
The Queensland Treasury has developed a policy called Community Service Obligations: A Policy Framework, for the provision of CSOs by the Queensland Government.
Public Benefit Test of Queensland's Rail Safety Legislation
To ensure that the rail safety provisions of the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994 are in the public interest, we have reviewed the relevant provisions by undertaking a
The review found that Queensland's rail safety framework is cost efficient and the legislation on which it is based sustains rail safety.
South East Queensland Infrastructure Program
The Premier released the South East Queensland Infrastructure Program 2007–2026 in May 2007. This plan identifies a total investment of A$82 billion in infrastructure projects.
For the rail network, projects identified in the South East Queensland Infrastructure Program include: additional rolling stock and tracks, new rail corridors and corridor extensions, improvements to existing track infrastructure to meet an increase in use.
Find out about these projects and more on our South East Queensland Infrastructure Program Rail Projects page.
Rail corridor direction statements
Rail corridor direction statements provide a vision for the management and ongoing development of the rail network, and help the Queensland Government's achieve its objectives, including those relating to regional development.
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Last updated 03 February 2010
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