Fast rail dream gains steam

THOUSANDS of people have backed calls for a high-speed passenger rail service from Toowoomba to Brisbane.

An online petition has collected more than 2300 signatures calling for state and federal governments to invest in the project hailed as Queensland’s answer to the Blue Mountains’ rail line.

“We need fast rail from Brisbane to Toowoomba so our children can commute to and from areas of employment, so we can access specialist health facilities and sport facilities centred in Brisbane, so people with disabilities can travel to Brisbane and local hospitals and to better support Brisbane residents living along the western corridor suburbs,” Peter Archilles wrote.

“For 150 years Sydney has expanded to the Blue Mountains and Katoomba with rail access for commuters being a key driver.

“Toowoomba is the Katoomba of Queensland but we need efficient rail services to provide the linkage and support for growth along the western corridor.”

The petition is the latest effort to get Toowoomba connected to Brisbane by high-speed rail, with advocate Robert Dow earlier this year urging the State Government to commit to the project after the Federal Budget.

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio in May told The Chronicle discussions had been held with the Lockyer Valley Regional Council and the South East Queensland Council of Mayors about passenger rail.

Describing it as a “very idealistic” plan, Cr Antonio said the Federal Government’s funding in the May budget to the Inland Rail project presented a new opportunity to explore the concept.

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise executive chairman Shane Charles previously supported calls for a passenger rail line.

To sign the petition, search Toowoomba at change.org.

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We need fast rail from Brisbane to Toowoomba.

— Peter Archilles