CBD train station naming poll reignites calls to update network names

Officials have given the public the power to vote on the name of Brisbane’s first new CBD train station in 120 years, but one of the city’s biggest public transport advocates says none of their options are good enough.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads revealed four options today – Albert Street, Brisbane City, City Botanic Gardens, and Frogs Hollow – in a community poll due to close on September 20.

Public transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track’s Robert Dow said the options are not good enough.

The public have until September 20 to vote for the new CBD Cross River Rail station. Credit: CRRDA Design

“They’ve all got problems,” he said. “Albert Street doesn’t really define it, Brisbane City is really confusing.”

“Frogs Hollow was the early name [given by] the white settlers for the area.”

He added the Botanic Gardens were not close enough to warrant being the station’s namesake.

The as-yet-unnamed Cross River Rail station at Albert Street.Credit: CRRDA Design

It’s not the first Dow has said about the station name, having spearheaded a petition last year to name the CBD station Meanjin, which attracted more than 1000 signatures from impassioned locals and was tabled in state parliament.

“The reason I put it in was so I could prompt a minister’s response,” Dow said.

“Frogs Hollow is probably the best name they’ve put up, but Meanjin is the traditional name for the area.”

He said Sydney’s recent Gadigal Station renaming proved First Nations names were not only possible for major cities, but were welcomed by the public.

Voters have the opportunity to add new suggestions to the naming poll, provided they give reasoning within the TMR’s naming parameters.

Treasurer Cameron Dick weighed in, saying to press on Friday morning, “It’s not going to be called Station McStation-face, I can assure you of that.”

The department said the current lineup was chosen to match conventional station names, which reference the location of the station through the suburb, a major street, or a nearby landmark.

The name has gone to a poll because officials are unsure whether Albert Street is well-known enough by Brisbane locals.

“It is important to us that whatever name is decided on ensures customers have a clear understanding of the station’s geographic location, can easily orient themselves when travelling on the Translink network, and helps customers connect with the local community in a consistent and common-sense way,” Transport Minister Bart Mellish said.

However, Dow said members of his advocacy group feel existing stations are already failing this test, adding Central Station to their renaming hit-list.

“We think a good name for Central Station would be Anzac Square,” he said.

This is not the first time Dow has pushed for change to the names of public transport infrastructure. After his recent advocacy for Park Road station to be renamed as Boggo Road, the name changed with little fanfare in August.