The Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley Mayors are calling on the Queensland Government to consider a detailed rail study for a staged extension of passenger services linking Toowoomba and the growing western corridor communities with Brisbane.
Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor, Cr Geoff McDonald, and his Lockyer Valley Regional Council counterpart, Cr Tanya Milligan, recently wrote to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, the Hon. Brent Mickelberg, requesting that the Queensland Government further explore options that were released by the former State Government in the Toowoomba-Brisbane Rail Summary Report in September last year.
Mayor McDonald said the September 2024 report explored four options for improved passenger rail services between Toowoomba and Brisbane.
"One option in the report considered using the existing Queensland Rail network from Helidon to Brisbane, with an interchange to a connecting bus service between Helidon and Toowoomba," Mayor McDonald said.
"Toowoomba and Lockyer believe another option has merit and warrants serious consideration. This involves extending rail from Helidon to Withcott in the first stage of a longer-term project to deliver a passenger rail service to Toowoomba city.
"A staged approach has the potential to unlock the benefits of better connectivity earlier for communities east of Toowoomba while laying the groundwork for a future full rail passenger service.
