THE Palaszczuk government has put Salisbury to Beaudesert passenger rail progress on the negotiating table with Canberra as part of a deal on the Inland Rail freight project.
This comes as the state government demanded the federal government increase infrastructure funding by $857 million as part of an agreement.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said any increase in freight trains passing through the proposed Kagaru to Acacia Ridge route needed to be complemented with the passenger rail line.
"It makes sense from a planning point of view to upgrade the rail corridor for freight and passenger services at the same time," he said.
"Until improvements to the rail connection to the port can be resolved, and the passenger rail upgrade built, coal trains will need to continue using the existing West Moreton Rail system and freight container trains between Kagaru and Acacia Ridge would be limited to single stack."
Forestdale resident Stan Corbett said any talk of tying the passenger rail line to the freight line was a "red herring".
"What they are talking about is building a four rail corridor...to implement that they are going to have to resume literally hundreds of homes and that is the last thing any state government wants," he said.
Mr Bailey said the Australian Rail Track Corporation also needed to address community concerns on issues including noise, social impacts, flooding and loss of agricultural land.
An ARTC spokesperson conceded there were outstanding issues to be resolved.
"We recognise that some landowners and communities are still requiring more information and we are working to provide it and address their concerns," the spokesperson said.
"...Sometimes providing those answers can take considerable time.
"Community consultation is the cornerstone of Inland Rail. We are committed to taking the community with us every step of the way through the studies we have planned, for noise, vibration, flora and fauna."
Meanwhile, ARTC Community Consultative Committee members voted to replace former Hillcrest resident Dorina Hall, who resigned prior to the Jimboomba meeting on August 5.
ARTC expects to have a new member appointed for the next meeting in November.
The Jimboomba Times sought comment from Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Michael McCormack on the state's funding demands.
