QLD: Minister defends rail track upgrade costs

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-1999
QLD: Minister defends rail track upgrade costs

Queensland's Transport Minister STEVE BREDHAUER says a $240 million upgrade of the rail
track from Rockhampton to Townsville is not connected to the extended Tilt Train service.

Mr BREDHAUER says it was a decision by the Queensland Rail Board to develop freight
business, but the opposition is falsely claiming it is part of the Tilt Train project.

The minister was responding to opposition claims that the cost of extending the Tilt Train
service from Rockhampton to Cairns has trebled to more than $400 million.

Opposition transport spokesman VAUGHAN JOHNSON says Labor campaigned on a $20 million track
upgrade and $102 million for two 10-car trains.

Mr JOHNSON says the government has now announced the trains will cost $138 million and it
will have to spend $240 million on track upgrades from Rockhampton to Townsville alone.

Mr BREDHAUER says the track upgrade will have a positive effect on the Tilt Train, but was
a separate decision by Queensland Rail.

AAP RTV geb/jmt

KEYWORD: TILT BREDHAUER (BRISBANE)

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