General News
6 November, 2025
Push on for Savannahlander
MEMBER for Hill Shane Knuth is increasing pressure on the Government to commit to full funding to repair the 424km rail line from Cairns to Forsayth for the Savannahlander rail journey.
During Questions without notice in Parliament last week, Mr Hill called on the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Brent Mickelberg, to explain why Brisbane’s Cross River Rail, which extends for only 10km, has a $20 billion funding commitment, but “the Savannahlander, regarded as one of the top 24 train journeys in the world... has not”.
It follows a recent tabling of a petition by Mr Knuth and KAP member for Traeger Robbie Katter containing 10,000 signatures from the region’s communities calling for more action on the rail.
“Can the minister explain the $20 billion spent on Cross River Rail, while refusing to commit to fixing the entire Savannahlander journey for a fraction of the cost, [and] which would drive economic income and tourism benefits to the region?” he said on 28 October.
In reply Mr Mickelberg said there was “considerable work being done to address a number of the key bridges that have been impacted as a consequence of natural disasters that occurred under the former government - I’m not suggesting the former government was responsible for those disasters, but nonetheless, that work was not done, and we’re getting on with the job of addressing some of that work”.
The minister said the estimated cost to repair all impacts to get the Savannahlander “up and running for the entirety of the journey” was in excess of $300 million”, according to Queensland Rail.
He said he had visited Einasleigh some weeks back and the bridge was “considerably impacted”.
“It’s a piece of spaghetti effectively, it’s got a big dogleg halfway down, it was washed out and it will require a considerable amount of work to rectify,” he said.
“But, nonetheless, we recognise the importance of the Savannahlander and will continue to keep chipping away and trying to address the considerable damage that exists on that line.”
