Southern Darling Downs

What’s Happening? Queensland Rail has completed restoration works on the Ballandean rail siding, located on the Southern Darling Downs. This project reinstates a vital turnaround point for trains, enabling heritage groups like the Southern Downs Steam Railway (SDSR) to extend services from Toowoomba, Warwick, and Stanthorpe to Ballandean. Starting in February 2025, heritage rail services will resume, with bus connections to Wallangarra set to commence in July 2025. Why It Matters The restoration of the Ballandean siding is a major milestone for heritage rail tourism, the Granite Belt region, and volunteer-run railways. It revives a key section of the historic Stanthorpe-to-Wallangarra line, which was heavily impacted by bushfires last year. The project reconnects communities, promotes tourism, and preserves Queensland’s rich