The Gold Coast Bulletin reports Federal Trade Minister Steve Ciobo has invited global rail company MTR to build a high-speed train linking between Gold Coast City and Brisbane.
Mr Ciobo said a bullet train in southeast Queensland would greatly help relieve the increasingly congested M1 motorway and made the suggestion to MTR Corporation during a trade mission to China.
MTR has been investing in railways globally and has contracts to operate rapid transit systems in various cities such as London, Stockholm, Beijing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Melbourne and Sydney.
“I encouraged MTR to look at the Gold Coast and explained the need for a high-speed rail link between our city and Brisbane,” he said.
“MTR has significant major rail projects in Australia and across the world and I believe a vibrant growing city such as the Gold Coast would be perfect for their next project.
“MTR has a unique business model called “rail plus property” that could provide an innovative way to fund a high-speed rail link between the Gold Coast and Brisbane.”
The rail plus property model gives MTR the rights to build rail lines and stations in return for development rights to nearby land.
Mayor Tom Tate said the Coast is Australia’s number one destination for tourism and a high-speed rail from capital cities such as Brisbane would be beneficial to both the city and economy.
