North Pine River upgrade boosts rail network capacity

A new 310-metre quad-track rail bridge has been completed across the North Pine River to deliver extra service capacity on our rail network.

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said the $168 million project doubled the number of tracks across the river from two to four and was built as part of the Queensland Government funded Lawnton to Petrie project.

"More than 650 train services will travel to and from Moreton Bay each week when the new rail line opens by mid-year," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"To cater for these services, the Palaszczuk Government has invested an extra $168 million to deliver 1.5 kilometres of additional track between Lawnton and Petrie where trains on this new line will join the existing rail network, supporting hundreds of construction jobs.”

State Member for Pine Rivers Nikki Boyd said the new wider bridge, which was now being used by Caboolture and Sunshine Coast trains, delivered an additional third and fourth track across the North Pine River to cater for our region's expanding train network.

"This bridge, as well as ongoing works to deliver additional tracks between Lawnton and Petrie, will deliver improved reliability, flexibility and efficiency for passengers in our local area," Ms Boyd said.

"The new bridge took about 12 months to complete and was built parallel to the existing bridge."

Ms Boyd said the Palaszczuk Government was working with Moreton Bay Regional Council to preserve some of the old bridge structure now that works to demolish and remove the old North Pine River Bridge had started.

"The original North Pine River rail bridge was built in 1936 and while it served our community well, it has come to the end of its design life," Ms Boyd said.

"The original rail bridge has great significance to the community with early generations of the local Dohle family involved in its construction.

"A commemorative section of the original bridge will be donated to the Pine Rivers Heritage Museum for residents to appreciate."

The bridge demolition will be staged over 12 weeks and a crane was floated along the North Pine River to assist with removing the old structure.

Time-lapse video (construction of the bridge): https://youtu.be/zsQq4ID_CzY

Media Contact:  Jessica Hill 0475 950 772