New plans unveiled for Roma Street Busway station

The State Government has revealed the state’s busiest transport hub will get a $250 million overhaul as part of the Cross River Rail project, delivering commuters a bold new travel experience that is entirely underground.

ONE of Brisbane’s busiest stations will be completely transformed within five years, with the state government unveiling new changes to the Cross River Rail project.

Roma Street’s busway station will be dug underground and integrated with new subterranean train platforms, in a $250 million announcement made today by the Palaszczuk government.

It is envisioned that placing the new busway platforms below ground and close to the Cross River Rail tunnels will facilitate more transfers between the two public transport modes.

Artists impression of the proposed bus-train underground interchange at Roma Street Station, in Brisbane's central business district.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the project would create a new hub at the centre of Brisbane’s transport network.

“The integrated Roma Street underground busway interchange will be part of a new turn-up-and-go transport network for the southeast,” Ms Trad said.

“Value adding a new, $250 million high-capacity underground interchange for the inner northern busway to the Cross River Rail project will support 480 jobs and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the Roma Street station precinct.”

Artists impression of the proposed bus-train underground interchange at Roma Street Station, in Brisbane's central business district.

The state government predicts 36,000 people will transfer between trains and buses at Roma Street station daily by the time the project is completed in 2024.

It will service Brisbane City Council’s Metro buses, in addition to being the only station on the network to integrate all Queensland Rail train lines.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the new busway station was needed because of growing public transport ridership.

“Queenslanders are backing public transport, with a record 182 million trips taken across the southeast last financial year, including an average of 19,000 people using the current Roma Street bus station each day,” Mr Bailey said.