E-Petition

The Petition of residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House Southern Queensland lacks modern, efficient regional passenger rail services connecting Warwick and Toowoomba. While a Toowoomba–Brisbane rail line is in the works, the Warwick–Toowoomba corridor is equally vital and must be planned and upgraded to ensure regional connectivity, economic growth, and transport choice.

An existing rail corridor between Warwick and Toowoomba exists but is underutilised and unsuitable for modern services. Rebuilding and upgrading it would provide a cost-effective, safe, and sustainable transport option while preserving the corridor.

A modern line with stations at:

Warwick → Mill Hill → Toolburra → Hendon → Clifton → Nobby → Greenmount → Cambooya → Wyreema → Drayton/Harristown → Toowoomba,

integrated with the Ipswich line, would:

• provide a reliable alternative to car travel, reducing congestion and improving road safety;
• support affordable housing by enabling people to live in regional towns while accessing major centres;
• encourage regional settlement and growth;
• improve access to employment, education, healthcare, and services; and
• stimulate local economies through construction, tourism, and ongoing rail operations.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to do all within its power to:

1. Investigate and plan the modernization of the Warwick–Toowoomba corridor alongside the Toowoomba–Brisbane planning;
2. Integrate stations along the route and connect to the Ipswich line;
3. Incorporate regional rail into housing, transport, and decentralization strategies; and
4. Undertake feasibility studies, community consultation, and staged planning.