Railpage Australia™ - Rail project vital for Brisbane: Bligh

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says a $14 billion rail project proposed for Brisbane is "absolutely imperative" to the city's future - but without federal funds, she cannot say when it will be built.

Ms Bligh on Tuesday released the Inner City Rail Capacity Study, which proposes four new underground tracks on two routes - from the western Ipswich line and from the southern Gold Coast line - extending to the north of Brisbane.

The new lines would have tunnels up to 13km long and underground rail stations at Spring Hill, Woolloongabba, CBD, Newstead, RNA showgrounds and West End that could be up to 45 metres underground.

The state will seek 50-50 funding or better from the federal government's $20 billion Building Australia fund, which leaders agreed to fast-track at last week's Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting.

With federal funding, the first phase of the project, worth $8 billion, could begin by late 2012, and be completed over 15 or 20 years.

Ms Bligh said underground transport would signal the rapidly growing city's "coming of age". She would not speculate how long it might take without federal funds.

"It's absolutely imperative that it goes ahead," she told reporters in Brisbane.

"Without funds from the commonwealth, the timing might have to be reconsidered, but this project has to proceed in order for Brisbane's transport system to meet the needs of population."

Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said the announcement was made to distract attention from the weekend defection of former government MP Ronan Lee to the Greens.

Mr Springborg said former premier Peter Beattie had made the same promise of an underground rail network in June 2005, with studies to be completed over three years.

He raised doubts about the capacity of the Building Australia fund.

"It seems to be a little bit like a great big magic pudding that's going to solve the big problems for Labor governments not only in Queensland but around the rest of the country as well," Mr Springborg said.

Ms Bligh said the fund would not simply provide one-off funding but be a "permanent part of the public policy landscape in Australia".

"It may well be that over a 10-year period, Queensland could access funds for two, three, four projects," she said.

A feasibility study and public consultation, to begin early next year and finish in mid-2011, will cost the possible rail routes.

Legislation to pass the Building Australia Fund is due to go before federal parliament during the next session, starting next week.

Other projects the state has put forward for potential federal funding are: the Bruce Highway upgrade; Darra to Springfield road and rail link; Brisbane's Eastern Busway project; the Gateway Motorway north and south upgrades; Port of Brisbane motorway; Gold Coast rapid transit project; Abbot Point multi-use harbour; Mount Isa rail corridor and the Toowoomba bypass.

The national industry group Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) said the announcement was much needed.

Transport manager Stewart Prins said urban congestion was costing Brisbane $3 million a day in lost productivity.

© 2008 AAP