The Wave – Stages 1 and 2

We’re directly connecting the eastern communities of the Sunshine Coast to South East Queensland’s passenger rail network, making it easier to travel locally and between the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Brisbane and beyond.

Benefits

• Reduces travel time
• Improves network efficiency
• Reduces peak hour congestion
• Increases traffic flow
• Contributes to regional growth
• Improves safety
• Better active transport
• Increases car parks
• Contributes to economy
• Accessibility

Key features

• A dual-track rail extension between Beerwah and Birtinya.
• Upgraded Beerwah station and new stations at Bells Creek (Aura), Caloundra, Aroona and Birtinya.
• Park 'n' rides and associated facilities to increase accessibility.
• Active transport links connecting neighbourhoods to stations, encouraging multi-modal transport journeys.
• Maintenance, stabling and operational facilities.

Funding

The Australian and Queensland governments have committed $2.75 billion each in funding to deliver Stage 1 (Beerwah to Caloundra). Investment ID 3024759

The Queensland Government has committed an additional $40 million to accelerate planning and market readiness for The Wave (Stages 2 and 3). Investment ID 3557421

Delivery

The rail portion of The Wave project will be delivered in two stages, comprised of the construction packages below.

Stage 1 — Beerwah to Caloundra (19km) includes:

• delivery of a new dual-track rail line and three stations (one upgraded, two new)
• investigations, design and market engagement to finalise planning to Birtinya
• protection of the revised alignment
• this stage of the project will be delivered in two construction packages:
  • Brownfield: Beerwah to approx. Steve Irwin Way
  • Greenfield 1: approx. Steve Irwin Way to Caloundra.

Stage 2 — Caloundra to Birtinya (7km) includes:

• extension of dual-track rail line, two new stations and approximately 1km of tunnel
• interchange with The Wave — Stage 3 at Birtinya which will deliver a metro-style service to enable seamless travel to the Sunshine Coast Airport
• this stage will be delivered through 1 construction package:
  • Greenfield 2: Caloundra to Birtinya.

The European Train Control System (ETCS) and Data Radio will be installed on The Wave – Stages 1 and 2 to support a more reliable rail network. ETCS, a digital signalling system, works to manage and monitor train movements and send real-time information between trains and the Rail Management Centre. This allows trains to travel closer together safely and reliably. It also updates train schedules automatically, giving customers more timely and accurate information.

An improved Sunshine Coast bus network will also support connections to nearby rail stations and active travel routes. Pre-delivery activities for The Wave - Stages 1 and 2 are now underway. It is expected that Stages 1 and 2 will support 3,300 regional jobs.

Current status

• Pre-delivery activities, including site investigations are now underway.
• Detailed design has commenced for Stage 1, with opportunities for community consultation on station precinct designs in the second half of 2026.
• Stage 2 is currently in procurement, with design and pre-construction contracts expected to be awarded in late 2026. Community consultation on Stage 2 station precinct designs will occur in early 2027.
• Major construction for The Wave is expected to commence in early-2027, subject to federal environmental approvals.

Connection with The Wave Stage 3

The rail line will interchange with The Wave Stage 3 at Birtinya station, which will provide a metro-style service to increase public transport opportunities for the growing Sunshine Coast community, as outlined in the Southern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Strategy.

The rail line also considers future-proofing for key road and rail interfaces along the proposed rail corridor.

Accessibility

The Wave stations will be accessible for everyone. The project team is liaising with accessibility specialists to incorporate best practice design, including:

• high quality, accessible, efficient and direct access between platforms and connecting transport
• clear and consistent wayfinding and information.

The Wave Stages 1 and 2

Video Transcript

My name is Jason Jones.

I work as a wheelchair pilot for biometrics, doing accessible mapping.

I’m helping those that are using manual wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, walking frames or walking aid, even those that are pushing prams

The Wave is a brand new, seamless public transport connection that will run from Beerwah station here in Beerwah all the way to the Sunshine Coast Airport in the Sunshine Coast.

Stages one and two of The Wave, are delivering a passenger rail line with station precincts and connections that should be accessible for everybody in our community.

Accessibility is a fundamental part of how we design and deliver a modern rail project.

Engaging with accessibility groups and specialists like Briometrix, is a key part of ensuring that accessibility is considered in all of our stages of planning and designing for our project.

For a wheelchair pilot, If I can't get there, it's basically like it's not wheelchair accessible.

So that's how I look at it.

I'm actually helping others.

Our goal is to make it easier for all people to move through our stations, use our services, and connect with their communities.

Many people who use public transport use it because they don't have an alternative to connect with their community services, health appointments and employment.

And it's essential that travel options are safe and inclusive for all.

whether I can get on trains, getting buses, accessibility means a whole lot so I can still go out and enjoy my life and do what everybody else does too.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads is committed to becoming a world leader in the provision of accessible and inclusive transport.

Our accessibility and inclusion strategy supports us in creating a single integrated network accessible to everyone.

The strategy was developed in consultation with our customers, our employees and delivery partners to provide a roadmap for embedding inclusion and accessibility into transport services, products, information, infrastructure, our workplaces and our work practices.

I enjoy the work, I know that I'm helping others to basically get around, and with the project, it's sort of setting a new horizon for all the actual wheelchair accessible people to get around and make it make their day easier like either get to work or go to shopping, go on a day adventure.

So the data that the Briometrix team are capturing for us will directly influence the design of our footpaths, our shared pathways and our pedestrian crossings.

So, for example, at signalized intersections, zebra crossings, refuge crossings and driveway crossover points, including around our rail stations.

As part of The Wave Rail project, we will be looking for other important accessibility considerations as we go through design and planning and even into construction.

Including legibility of our new network, travel connectivity and safe multimodal connections with our bus and active transport networks.

I think collaborations like the one that we're doing with Briometrix are really important, from this really early planning stage to take them into our design development.

If we didn't have this data and the lived experience of people that require accessibility support around our station precincts, we may be missing out on opportunities to design better and safer precincts for everybody.

I’m really excited for the outcome of this, this project because it’s not just going to help me, but it will help many others in enjoying their life - to get around and see life in a different way.

And have you.