Funding boost for rail line before Brisbane 2032

A key Brisbane Olympics rail project has received a vital funding boost from the Commonwealth. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

A key transport project will be ready for the Brisbane Olympics after a $1.15 billion federal government boost.

However, the Queensland government has come under fire, with the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line not reaching proposed Games sites by 2032.

The Commonwealth on Monday confirmed the extra money would take its contribution to the rail project to $2.75 billion, matching the state's.

The line's $5.5 billion first stage will cover 19km from Beerwah to Caloundra, with construction to start in 2026.

There are long term plans for another two stages, travelling north along the coast to Maroochydore.

"The vision for Brisbane 2032 was always better transport connectivity, completely transforming the southeast," Premier Steven Miles told reporters on Monday.

"Now it is fully funded we can get underway and get started building heavy rail to Caloundra."

However the opposition has attacked Labor for not ensuring the railway extends to Maroochydore by 2032.

Construction workers at the Roma Street Station in  Brisbane
Commuters will save time when travelling from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane's Roma Street station.

The Sunshine Coast will host nine Olympic and Paralympic events across four locations but the Caloundra link won't extend to all the region's Games sites including a satellite athletes' village in Maroochydore.

LNP leader David Crisafulli thinks it's possible to complete all three stages and extend the rail line to Maroochydore by 2032.

"We've backed this project from day one," he told reporters.

"The choice at the next election is clear - the LNP that will take it all the way to Maroochydore or the Labor Party that will cut it and turn Caloundra into a car park.

"The premier can wave the white flag. We believe in building generational infrastructure."

Mr Miles said a line to Maroochydore couldn't be completed in time, citing a business case released in March.

"The business case said if you try to build it all the way to Maroochydore all at once you would have no trains operating for at least 10 years (and) it would cost billions and billions of dollars more," he said.

"David Crisafulli is trying to con the people of the Sunshine Coast."

Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli
David Crisafulli thinks it's possible to complete all three stages and extend to Maroochydore.

Mr Miles said it had to be built in stages, starting with the extension to Caloundra.

"The only way to get trains operating before 2032 is to stage this project," he said.

Train journeys on the first stage from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane's Roma Street station are set to take 45 minutes less than driving in peak hour.

No timelines have been given for delivering stage two and three.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King was quizzed on why the train line would not extend to Maroochydore by 2032 while appearing with Mr Miles on Monday.

"We are doing these projects properly. We are staging them, making sure they are deliverable," she said.

Asked about building to Maroochydore if the Liberals win office, Ms King said: "I look forward to seeing the big budget black hole resulting from the opposition leader frankly making a promise he can't deliver".

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