QLD: Tilt train cost blowout bagged

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-1999
QLD: Tilt train cost blowout bagged

BRISBANE, Aug 22 AAP - The cost of extending Queensland's Tilt Train service from
Rockhampton to Cairns had trebled to more than $400 million, the state opposition said today.

Transport spokesman Vaughan Johnson said Labor had campaigned on a $20 million track
upgrade and $102 million for two 10-car trains.

"The government has now announced the trains alone will cost $138 million and they have to
spend $240 million on track upgrades from Rockhampton to Townsville alone," Mr Johnson said.

He said the figure would increase when the track costs from Townsville to Cairns were
added.

"Transport Minister Steve Bredhauer now has to admit the Sunlander trains cannot be
replaced and the travel time between Cairns and Brisbane will be nothing like the 21 hours
promised," Mr Johnson said.

A spokesman for Mr Bredhauer said the $240 million track upgrade to Townsville had been
planned to increase freight train speeds to 100 kph.

"It will take heavy trucks off the busy Bruce Highway and has nothing to do with the Tilt
Train project," the spokesman said.

Mr Johnson said the new Tilt Trains would be 10 per cent smaller than originally planned
and have no sleeper accommodation - despite costing 30 per cent more.

"Current bus travel between Brisbane and Cairns costs $108 and takes 26 hours and will
improve further with some of the road projects started by the Coalition," he said.

Mr Johnson said the Beattie government must now submit the costings for the extended Tilt
Train service to the Public Works Committee.

AAP geb/cjh

KEYWORD: TILT

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