SEQ commuters urged to plan as Cross River Rail closures loom

Commuters using busy southeast Queensland rail lines are being urged to plan alternative travel arrangements as multiple track closures loom next month.

Brisbane train lines will be affected next month by track closures. Picture: Dan Peled.

Travellers on Brisbane’s trains are being urged to make alternative arrangements due to track closures and travel changes next month and in July, including Broncos and Dolphins fans looking forward to some key games at Suncorp Stadium.

The track closures were needed to allow for crucial works on the Cross River Rail project to be safely completed.

Various parts of the network would be affected from Saturday, June 15 to Sunday, July 7, at different times.

The Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines would be affected for the entire period, with all northern lines scheduled for changes only between Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, July 7.

Track closures would also occur on the Cleveland line on three weekends in June and July.

Cross River Rail Delivery Authority CEO Graeme Newton said several important stages of work would be carried out across the network which could not be done while trains were running.

Cross River Rail station Dutton Park. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“Just some of the work to take place includes extensive track and overhead wiring works between Bowen Hills and Albion, drainage and signalling works, upgrades at Yeerongpilly, Rocklea and Dutton Park stations, early works at Salisbury station and work on the new pedestrian bridge at the Princess Alexandra Hospital,” Mr Newton said.

“These closures will allow crews to carry out a huge amount of works safely and efficiently in the rail corridor.

“While the majority of work will take place during the school holidays, we understand this will inconvenience some customers”.

Revellers attending Dolphins and Broncos games at Suncorp Stadium during this period will also be affected.

Limited track closures would occur during the Friday night round 16 game between the Dolphins and the Melbourne Storm on June 21.

However, all lines would be affected when the Broncos host the Penrith Panthers on Friday July 5.

Information on alternative travel arrangements would be available on the TransLink website a week before these events.

Acting Head of TransLink Peter Milward said alternative travel arrangements would be in place during the closure and urged customers to plan their journeys before travel.

“We’ve listened to customer feedback from previous closures and have adjusted railbus routes and timetables to deliver more reliable travel options for customers,” Mr Milward said.

“There will be a variety of alternative transport options available during the closures, including express and all stop rail replacement buses.

“We strongly encourage customers to consider their travel options, allow extra time and to plan ahead.

“All rail replacement bus timetables will be in the journey planner closer to the closures, which can be accessed by the MyTranslink app or on the TransLink website”.

All services would return to a regular timetable from first service on Monday July 8.

Cross River Rail feature - Roma Street station aerial shot.

Train service changes:

Saturday 15 to Sunday 16 June:

• Beenleigh/Gold Coast lines: Combined service operating between Varsity Lakes and Banoon. Trains will run to a special timetable. Buses will replace trains between Banoon and Roma Street.
• Cleveland line: Cleveland line trains will not operate. Buses will replace trains between Cleveland and Roma Street:
• Airport /Ferny Grove/Doomben lines: Trains will terminate at Roma Street.
• Shorncliffe/Northgate lines: Trains will terminate at South Brisbane.
• Monday 17 to Friday 21 June and Monday 24 to Friday 28 June:
• Beenleigh line: Terminate at Banoon. Buses will replace trains between Banoon and Park Road. Trains will operate to a special timetable.
• Ferny Grove line: Trains will terminate at Park Road.
• Gold Coast/Airport lines: Trains will run express between Altandi and Roma Street stations, via the Tennyson loop in both directions. Trains will operate to an altered timetable.
• Ipswich/Springfield Central Line: Platform changes will be in place between Milton and Darra.

Saturday June 22 to Sunday June 23:

• Beenleigh/Ferny Grove lines: Trains will run express between Moorooka and Roma Street via the Tennyson loop in both directions. Buses will replace trains between Moorooka and Park Road. Trains will run to a special timetable.
• Gold Coast line: Trains will run express between Altandi and Roma Street, via the Tennyson loop in both directions. Trains will depart from Beenleigh and not operate between Helensvale and Beenleigh, with rail replacement buses in place. There will be a train shuttle between Helensvale and Varsity Lakes. Trains will operate to a special timetable.
• Doomben line: Trains will run to Park Road (Saturday only).
• Ipswich/Springfield Central Line: Platform changes will be in place between Milton and Darra.

Saturday June 29 to Sunday June 30:

• Beenleigh/Gold Coast lines: Combined service operating between Varsity Lakes and Banoon. Buses will replace trains from Banoon to Roma Street, Eagle Junction and Northgate. Trains will run to a special timetable.
• Cleveland line: Trains will terminate at Manly. Buses will replace trains from Manly to Roma Street.
• Airport/Sunshine Coast lines: Airport line trains will operate between Domestic and International Airports to Eagle Junction then turn north Northgate, then onto Caboolture/Sunshine Coast. Buses will replace trains between Northgate and Roma Street for Caboolture/Sunshine Coast line customers. Buses will replace trains between Eagle Junction and Roma Street and an express service will run between Eagle Junction and Banoon for Gold Coast line customers. Caboolture/Sunshine Coast trains will operate to Eagle Junction when Airtrain services finish at 10pm. Caboolture/Sunshine Coastline trains will make an additional stop at Geebung (No rail replacement buses).
• Ferny Grove line: Trains will terminate at South Brisbane.
• Shorncliffe line: Trains will terminate at Northgate. Buses will replace trains between Northgate and Roma Street.
• Redcliffe Peninsula line: Trains will terminate at Northgate. Buses will replace trains between Northgate and Roma Street.
• Springfield/Ipswich lines: Trains will terminate at Bowen Hills.
• Doomben line: Trains will terminate at Eagle Junction. Buses will replace trains between Eagle Junction and Roma Street (Saturday only).

Monday July 1 to Friday July 5:

• All trains will run to a special timetable.
• Beenleigh/Gold Coast lines: Combined service operating between Varsity Lakes and Banoon station. Buses will replace trains from Banoon to Roma Street, Eagle Junction and Northgate.
• Airport line: Trains will operate between Domestic and International Airports and Eagle Junction, then turn north to Northgate and onto Shorncliffe. Buses will replace trains between Eagle Junction and Roma Street and an express to Banoon will run for Gold Coast line customers. Shorncliffe line services will operate to Eagle Junction when Airtrain services finish operating at 10pm.
• Shorncliffe line: Trains will run express from Northgate to Eagle Junction then to International and Domestic Airport. Buses will replace trains between Northgate and Roma Street. Shorncliffe line services will operate to Eagle Junction when Airtrain services finish operating at 10pm.
• Ferny Grove/Cleveland lines: Ferny Grove and Cleveland lines are linked from first service until 8pm. After 8pm, Ferny Grove trains will terminate at Park Road and Cleveland trains will terminate at Bowen Hills.
• Doomben line: Trains will terminate at Eagle Junction. Buses will replace trains between Eagle Junction and Roma Street.
• Sunshine Coast/Caboolture lines: Trains will terminate at Northgate, making an additional stop at Geebung. Buses will replace trains between Geebung, Northgate and Roma Street. Express railbuses will run between Geebung and Roma Street during the morning and afternoon peak periods.
• Redcliffe Peninsula line: Trains will terminate at Northgate. Buses will replace trains between Northgate and Roma Street.
• Ipswich/Springfield lines: Trains terminate at Bowen Hills.

Saturday 6 to Sunday July 7:

• Beenleigh/Gold Coast lines: Combined service operating between Varsity Lakes and Banoon station. Customers will need to transfer at Helensvale for travel towards Banoon or Varsity Lakes. Buses will replace trains for stations between Banoon and Roma Street.
• Airport/Sunshine Coast lines: Airport line trains will operate between Domestic and International Airports and Eagle Junction, turning north to Northgate then onto Caboolture/Sunshine Coast lines. Sunshine Coast/Caboolture line trains will operate to Eagle Junction when Airtrain services finish at 10pm. Sunshine Coast/Caboolture line trains will make an additional stop at Geebung. Buses will replace trains between Eagle Junction and Roma Street and an express to Banoon.
• Ferny Grove line: Trains will terminate at South Brisbane.
• Cleveland line: Trains will terminate at Manly. Buses will replace trains between Manly and Roma Street.
• Shorncliffe line: Trains will terminate at Northgate. Buses will replace trains between Northgate and Roma Street.
• Redcliffe Peninsula line: Trains will terminate at Northgate. Buses will replace trains between Northgate and Roma Street.
• Doomben line: Trains will terminate at Eagle Junction. Buses will replace trains between Eagle Junction and the city. Trains will run to an altered timetable (Saturday only).